The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-20
HER ROMANCE.

stopped on their way to school and
spent their pennies. They all called
her aunt Lucy. She was creeping
along among the seventies, when the
church in Pennhollow, where she had
attended for over fifty years, changed
ministers. Wise old parson Graves
slipped quietly away to his farm, and
young Arthur VIM, fresh from the
college, succeeded him. 1t was like
putting book in the place OF living
oracle, but the people had all hopes
that the book would some time bud
and blossom, as did Aaron's rod.
Young Winn had learned, while among
the hills where he studied sacred lore.
not only the wisdom requisite to his
profession, but heart lesson, which
was quite as much needed. And so he
took Regina Ball to Pennhollow.
Regina had been my inseparable
companion from the time of short
frocks and pinatores; and Pennhol.
low, with it's great churches, its new
duties, and strange scenes, could not
fill the void which each felt at separa-
ton. Scarcely was the new tent pitch
ed ere beseeching letters began to pour
IN upon me to come to dear. lonely
friend; come and pass the winter in
Pennhollow.
had never Travelled many miles
away from my own home, and this
opening opportunity was quite at.
tractlve. l took counsel with nv
mother, and it was agreed, somewhat
sadly, remember, that the beseech-
ing letters should have favorable
answer. The sadness inhered in the
thought OF leaving my dear parents
quite alone through the dull
and stormy months, while
had q gay time in the
city. But were ever parents thought
ful OF themselves under such circum.
stances? From the beginning of the
world until now, the very word par
ent stands for self-sacrifce. A pity
for the children who allow the sacri-
flee to assert itself perpetually, and
without large returns.
And in going to Pennhollw got &C.
painted with aunt Lucy and learned
her romance. When l walked up the
broad aisle with Regina, and entered
the minister's pew, was somewhat
surprised to find it occupied. A little
old lady, her round face framed in
white cap frills, sat in the corner of
the pew. Her dark eyes had smiling
twinkle, which certain permanent
dimples intensified, making the
wrinkled old face inviting and pleas.
ant. She was very decorious all
through the services, and instead of
being hindered in our devotions by
the proximity OF a stranger, we were
helped. A degree OF spiritual ex-
altation possessed us quite beyond
any previous experience. It may
have been in part owing to the time
honored church, and the multitude of
decorous worshipers; but when Regina
and | talked the matter over, we quite
agreed that our heavenly mood was
largely due to aunt Lucy. If sunshine
such as hers can zlorify the face of age,
there is something in religion which
our young enthusiasm has no power,
as yet, to fathom, we said; something
which grows and deepens with the
passing years.
found that aunt Lucy always sat
in the minister's pew. She seemed to
belong to the church in away which no.
body else did. AS got acquainted
with the people, meeting them at the
sociables, and around their own tables
-Pennhollow was a master
place to ask tho minister
to tea, and of course l was
always invited, tool found they all
claimed relationship with the little
old lady in the minister's pew. They
had persuaded her to g i've up her can
dy store on the corner OF Third street,
thinking she was too old to have so
much care, and let the church take
care OF her.
They took a right gracious way to
supply the income of the candy sales.
1t was agreed that she should 20 out
to pass the day with one family, then
with another, until she had made the
circuit OF the parish, then begin and
60 around again, and so on. As aunt
Lucy had a nephew living on q farm
near the sea, SO that she could 90 to
the sea-shore in the summer, she did
not visit the same family oftener than
once a year, unless it might have been
the family of the minister. She could
not wholly conform to the routine,
but would 60 where she liked somewhat
oftener. l remember she came for the
first time to the house OF the young
minister on the Sunday after Thanks
giving. An immense turkey, which did
not get roasted on the regular day for
the reason that the minister's family
was invited out, came to it's post OF
honor for aunt Lucy.
How eloquently she praised the cap
tain who brought the turkey, and the
captains wife who sent the pies. 1t
was a fashion they had in Pennhollow
Isuppose, to save the minister's wife
the trouble of mixing the indigestible
compound, and the minister's purse
the unnecessary outlay. 1t was real
God-send to Regina to have the pies.
for she did not know much about
cooking, and l did not, either, so that
we naturally confined ourselves to SIM
pie things which were easily made.
We learned great deal about the
people OF the parish through aunt
Lucy. There was one blessed trait in
the old lady-she praised every body.
We quite concluded, before the Sun
day visit ended. that the church of the
Holy Cross in Pennhollow had some.
how managed to gather the cream O
the city. Certainly, if every other
church was made up of such perfect
people as the young minister had that
day preached to, there was an anoma.
lous population in the city-a race of
angels scarcely lacking wings.
After aunt Lucy went away. said
to Regina:
"There is romance connected with
this suave woman, and I am going to
tathom it. She's right handsome,
and I'll warrant there's g. lover some.
where in the beginning of this century
or the close OF the last"
.'she will not tell you, il there is"
said my friend.